83C Justification

Non-Substantive Change Justification for Online USRAP Intake Questionnaire:

The online USRAP Intake Questionnaire is a new, improved method for gathering information necessary for USRAP processing via the existing I-590 that will collect the same data while reducing burden on respondents.

The USRAP Intake Questionnaire will be used to obtain information from Afrikaners or other racial minorities in South Africa who believe they are eligible for refugee resettlement through the USRAP.  The collection of this information is already taking place as part of the USRAP’s regular procedures via the paper form I-590.

If the online questionnaire cannot be used, the identification and processing of Afrikaners and other racial minorities in South Africa who are eligible for resettlement in the United States as refugees will continue to be excessively burdensome and costly, preventing the Department of State and USCIS from reaching the targets set by the Homeland Security Council for this initiative. Continued processing of this unique population without this online questionnaire will also prevent the Department from making critical improvements to the quality of referrals to the USRAP, which is necessary to focus critical and limited processing resources on cases likely to meet the necessary qualifications for refugee resettlement in the United States. 

The online USRAP Intake Questionnaire consolidates information collection necessary for USRAP referrals and processing at an earlier stage in the process and facilitates the intended population to provide that information themselves in a more consolidated and less burdensome manner to U.S. officials and implementers. It will allow for the elimination or minimization of other data gathering mechanisms (such as phone calls, emails, paper-form filling, etc.) currently utilized in USRAP referral and processing procedures to get the same information via more resource intensive means. The information in the Questionnaire is currently collected later in USRAP processing through the paper Form I-590, Registration for Classification as a Refugee (OMB No. 1615-0068). Information gathered through the Questionnaire that is also requested by the Form I-590 will be electronically pre-populated in the Form I-590 for those who proceed in the process, ensuring there is no duplication of the information being collected on the Form I-590.

Through the online questionnaire, Afrikaners or other racial minorities in South Africa who believe they are eligible for refugee resettlement through the USRAP will provide their identity information, including names, dates of birth, race, and religion; marital status; employment, education, and military service history; residence location history; names and other information regarding the person’s spouse, parents, and children; contact information; and individuals’ claims of past or fear of future persecution, among other details currently approved for collection through the paper Form I-590, Registration for Classification as a Refugee (OMB No. 1615-0068). All data gathered through the questionnaire is necessary for USRAP referring entities and U.S. government officials to assess their eligibility for referral to the USRAP and for USRAP processing partners to expeditiously move those deemed eligible for USRAP participation through its various processing stages, and it is currently being gathered at other stages throughout the process using other data gathering methods.

The legal authorities for this collection: INA Section 207, 8 U.S.C. § 1157, authorizes the admission of refugees into the United States in accordance with a determination by the President. INA Section 101(a)(42), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42), requires refugees to have experienced persecution or have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.